A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 21st of October 2023
5 stars out of 5
The Shanghai Circle is a historical thriller set in Shanghai in 1936, a time of great political and social upheaval. The city is divided between the powerful foreign powers, the Chinese government, and the criminal underworld. Into this milieu comes Irina, a young Russian woman who is fleeing the Bolsheviks. She is soon drawn into the dangerous web of intrigue and violence that is Shanghai.
The story follows Irina as she becomes involved with the Guest family, a powerful British taipan family, and Joseph Cheung, the heir to the Sung Society, a powerful triad. As the Japanese threat to Shanghai grows, Irina must find a way to survive in this dangerous world.
Henderson does a masterful job of recreating the atmosphere of Shanghai in the 1930s. The city is a cosmopolitan melting pot but also a place of great danger and violence. Henderson vividly depicts the city’s vibrant nightlife, its bustling markets, and its dark underworld.
The characters in The Shanghai Circle are complex and well-developed. Irina is a resourceful and courageous heroine, while Joseph Cheung is a conflicted young man struggling to find his place in the world. The supporting cast is also well-drawn, including Charles Guest, the taipan of the Guest family, and his daughter Davina.
The Shanghai Circle is a fast-paced and suspenseful thriller. Henderson keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The book is also a fascinating look at a time and place often overlooked in popular fiction.
I would rate The Shanghai Circle a 5 out of 5 stars. It is a well-written and exciting novel with complex and well-developed characters. Henderson does a masterful job of recreating the atmosphere of Shanghai in the 1930s, and the book is also a fascinating look at a time and place that is often overlooked in popular fiction. The editing was good and the book remains error-free.
My only minor criticism of the book is that the plot can be a bit predictable at times. However, the suspense is still maintained throughout the story, and the ending is satisfying.
Overall, I highly recommend The Shanghai Circle to fans of historical thrillers and Asian fiction. It is a great read that will keep you entertained.